Message from the Chair
As we look back on the past year, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for the remarkable work being done across the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. Our department continues to thrive through a shared commitment to advancing mental health care, pioneering research, and cultivating the next generation of leaders in the field of psychiatry.
This year, we celebrated several transformative milestones, which are reflected throughout this report. Clinically, we’ve expanded our footprint and enhanced our services. For example, we continue to grow our early intervention in mental health clinics, increasing access to timely care for individuals and families across Alabama. These efforts are helping us identify and treat psychiatric conditions earlier, improving outcomes and offering renewed hope to those we serve.
In addition, the Community Psychiatry Program relocated to the new Cooper Green Mercy Health building, offering a fresh, modern work environment for faculty and staff, as well as an enhanced care experience for patients.
We also launched a powerful partnership with UAB Blazer Football athletes to promote mental health awareness. This initiative has opened doors to honest conversations, reduced stigma, and highlighted the importance of mental wellness in all areas of life—including athletics.
We remain deeply committed to translational research that bridges laboratory discoveries with clinical practice. Our teams are investigating a wide range of conditions—from schizophrenia and mood disorders to neurodegenerative diseases and substance use—ensuring that our findings lead to innovative, evidence-based interventions.
Education remains a cornerstone of our mission. Our residency and fellowship programs, psychology internships, and postdoctoral research opportunities continue to attract top-tier talent. These future leaders bring fresh perspectives and energy, and we are proud to support their development.
Our faculty continue to distinguish themselves through each of our mission areas. Several were honored with endowed professorships over the past year, a recognition of their leadership and lasting contributions to the field. Their work, alongside our dedicated staff, APPs, and trainees, reflects the collaborative spirit that defines our department. To honor and recognize our hardworking employees, we introduced a new employee recognition program this year. This program celebrates the dedication and achievements of our team members, reinforcing a culture of appreciation and belonging.
We are especially grateful to our donors and community partners whose generosity fuels our mission. Your support enables us to expand access to care, invest in groundbreaking research, and train the next generation of mental health professionals. Together, we are building a stronger, more compassionate future for psychiatric care.
As you explore the 2025 Annual Report, I invite you to join us in celebrating these accomplishments while we look ahead to what’s to come. Together, we are shaping the future of psychiatry—through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering focus on the well-being of our patients and communities.
Adrienne C. Lahti, M.D.
Professor and Chair
Heman E. Drummond Endowed Chair of Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology
UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Read the 2025 UAB Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology Annual Report
View the interactive report Featured Stories
New grouping of UAB clinics address early intervention in mental health for psychosis, mood disorder, and substance abuse
A trio of clinics in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology reflects the department’s dedication to innovation in mental health care. Known collectively as the TEAM Clinics (Treatment, Evaluation and multidisciplinary Approaches for Mental health Clinics), they focus on early intervention for younger individuals experiencing first episodes of psychosis, mood disorders, and substance use disorders—conditions that often emerge during adolescence and early adulthood.
Celebrating our social workers: the Community Psychiatry Program Clinic, the REACT Program, and the Day Treatment Program
Social workers are the backbone of compassionate, community-centered care across the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. Here, we highlight social workers in three distinct programs: the Community Psychiatry Program Clinic, the Research and Evaluation of Assertive Community Treatment Program, and the Day Treatment Program—each serving patients through tailored, interdisciplinary approaches.
UAB researcher awarded $3.5 million to study PTSD susceptibility in women
Elizabeth Lucas, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, received a $3.5 million grant to study post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, in women.
Julian family gives back to invest in the future of the professions that shaped them
One couple with faculty roots in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine not only contributed to the school’s clinical, educational, and research-driven missions while serving their respective departments, but they are now giving back to support future clinicians, mentors, and scientists in doing the same.
Read more 2025 Psychiatry news stories